Page 32 of The Lone Wolf's Bride

‘I can scarce believe you will be mine,’ Murray continued excitedly. ‘You have made me so happy Ilene. We should make haste and return to Cailleach, for I must secure your father’s permission so that we can make wedding plans.’

‘Murray, I want to be your wife as soon as possible. I want no delay. Promise me we will marry at once and let no one change our minds, please.’

‘Yes, let’s run back to Cailleach and marry now or tomorrow, for I can hardly wait.’

Ilene laughed at his foolishness, the first time in months she had done so. He pulled her to him and kissed her thoroughly, and this time, Ilene decided she didn’t want him to stop.

Suddenly a voice behind them shouted in fury, ‘Murray Campbell!’ He turned, swiftly pushing her behind him, his hand going to his sword hilt.

There was her father, glowering at them from his horse.

‘What the hell are you doing with my daughter?’ said Duncan.

Chapter Eleven

Ilene stood at Murray’s side, her ears still ringing from the onslaught of her father’s outrage. It upset her, but she could not show it, and she could not weaken now, she had too much to lose. Murray seemed unmoved by Duncan’s anger. It showed the measure of him, as there were few, apart from her mother, who could stand fast when her father lost his temper.

Duncan had ordered them back to the castle and here they stood, in his study, as he raged about the room.

‘Why in the hell do you suddenly want Murray when you’ve been mooning after that fool, Aidan Grant, for months?’

‘Because I know Murray can make me happy.’

‘And you are telling me you are absolutely sure you want him, Ilene?’ Duncan shouted, gesturing to Murray, who had remained steadfast and, if truth be told, a bit smug, throughout the heated exchange.

‘Yes father, I want him.’

Murray beamed at her proudly. She was withstanding her father’s ire on his behalf, she wanted him and she would be his, no matter what Duncan said, he had already made his mind up on that score.

‘And you Murray? Why this sudden interest in Ilene? Is it the land I offered? Do you seek to ensure it through marriage?’

‘You insult us both then. Look at her, she does not have to come with the promise of land for me to want her. You gave me your word over that land, and I’ve no doubt you’ll be true to it so I don’t need to drag your daughter into marriage to obtain it, nor would I stoop to use her so. You, of all people, should know that. If you think me so low then you do not know me at all, and if you wish to withdraw the land, then so be it.’ He took a defiant step towards Duncan. ‘She’ll wed me anyway.’

‘You went behind my back. You did not declare your intentions, and for me to find you with your hands all over her!’

‘I never laid a finger on her before today, when I asked her to wed me. And if she had rejected me, I never would have.’

‘And you’ll not lay a finger on her from this day forward, you can be assured of that.’

‘Are you refusing permission for me to marry Ilene?’

‘Would it make any difference?’

‘None at all,’ replied Murry implacably.

First their rift with the Grants, then Hugh dying and now this. Duncan did not know what to make of this relationship between his daughter and his adopted son. It had come out of nowhere, and he did not entirely trust in it. Something was off, and it wasn’t with Murray for Duncan could not remember ever having seen him look so happy.

‘So, Ilene, you are resolved to wed him.’

‘Yes, father.’

‘Leave us, girl.’

When she had gone, with one last thin smile for Murray, Duncan turned to him.

‘You come to me and tell me you want to marry my daughter and, within days, take her off to Shillinglaw, a wild and lawless place, without so much as a by your leave, and you expect me to take that lying down. There is only a rough cottage to live in until the main house is put to rights, and it will be a shock for her, after Cailleach’s comforts. And on top of this, you barely know each other Murray,’ he said firmly.

‘Ilene longs to see beyond these walls, we have spoken of it, and you know I would never let any harm come to her, for I have cared for her since we were children.’

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